How to Take Your Baby to the Beach {Plus Baby Beach Essentials!}

TIPS FOR TAKING A BABY TO THE BEACH

Summer doesn’t truly feel like summer until you’ve taken a trip to the beach. Whether you live near the coast or enjoy lakefront beaches, it’s truly a summertime rite of passage. But bringing a baby to the beach can feel overwhelming.

Our family moved to Florida right before we had our second baby. We then proceeded to have babies number 3 and 4 in Florida as well, so we’ve become experts at visiting the beach with a baby in tow.

Over the years, we’ve developed systems for visiting the beach with a baby, so read on for tips and tricks to make your upcoming beach vacation or beach day relaxing and fun!

(And if your kids are a little bit older, make sure to read my post on What to Pack for a Beach Day with Toddlers!)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

WHAT SHOULD BABY WEAR TO THE BEACH?

What your baby wears to the beach can make or break your beach day. I’ve made the mistakes of forgetting swim diapers, forgetting a hat, and dressing the baby in swimwear that doesn’t cover enough. While it didn’t ruin our beach day, it certainly made it a lot more difficult than it needed to be!

Here are some tips for dressing baby for the beach:

BEST BABY SWIMSUIT OPTIONS

To me, the best baby swimsuits cover the most skin. Thank goodness baby rash guards are becoming more popular! A long sleeve rash guard with UPF protection will protect your baby’s skin from the sun, and you don’t even have to worry about reapplying sunscreen to the covered areas. That’s a parenting win for sure!

SUN HAT

You’ll also want to bring a sun hat for your baby. Check to ensure that it fits baby’s head well so it won’t fall off at the first gust of wind. A wide brim will bring you peace of mind, since it will offer their face and neck plenty of protection so you can splash in the waves without worry.

SWIM DIAPERS FOR THE BEACH

There are 2 options for swim diapers: disposable and cloth/reusable diapers. We did cloth diapers with our first baby. Now that we’re on our 4th baby, we’ve decided to go with disposable diapers.

However, for baby swim diapers, we still go with the cloth diaper. It saves a ton of money, and honestly, I think they absorb so much more than disposable.

Once they turn into toddlers, I often end up going with the disposable diapers. it all comes down to personal preference, sp try them both and see what works best for your family!

If you go with the reusable diaper, bring an extra one and a wet bag to store soiled diapers.

OTHER BEACHWEAR AND APPAREL FOR BABY

If you’re heading to the beach with a newborn or infant, you likely won’t need to worry about them walking, so you don’t need to put anything on their feet. We never do!

However, if you’ve got an early walker on your hands, consider a pair of baby water shoes or waterproof shoes to protect them from the hot sand or sharp shells they may step on.

You might also want to consider baby sunglasses! This awesome pair of baby sunglasses comes with a wide soft band to keep those sunnies on the baby’s face.

Finally, I LOVE the idea of this wearable beach towel to keep your little one warm and dry after a dip in the water.

Don’t forget to read my post on Postpartum Summer Outfit Ideas! I include swimsuit and beachwear ideas for moms!

BABY GEAR AND SET UP FOR THE BEACH

BEACH UMBRELLA OR TENT

If you’re planning to be at the beach for a while, I would highly recommend bringing a beach umbrella for shade. Your baby can snooze there, older kids can use that spot for snacks or breaks from the sun, and it’s also a good place to breastfeed or give the baby a bottle.

We ended up going with the very affordable Sport-Brella because it’s easy to set up and comes with a convenient travel bag. We got it when we only had 2 kids, so I think we would go with the Sport-Brella Premiere XL now that we’re a family of 6.

If you don’t want to set up an entire beach umbrella, consider a baby beach tent or this awesome one with a baby pool so they can enjoy splashing and playing with beach toys in the shade!

WEIGHTED BEACH BLANKET

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Now that we’ve experienced the beach with a weighted beach blanket I will never go back! It’s sand-free, and the edges stay flat no matter how windy it is! We got the largest size and it’s perfect for snack time at the beach, letting baby stretch out in the shade, and storing your bags and beach towels to keep them from the sand.

It rolls up nicely and even has a carrying handle to it’s super easy to transport without taking up too much space. Bring a soft towel or muslin blanket to put on top of the weighted beach blanket to give your baby a spot to sit or lay down so you don’t have to hold them the entire time.

WATERPROOF BABY CARRIER

I can’t believe it’s taken me until baby number 4 to buy one of these, but I’ve finally ordered a waterproof ring sling for our upcoming beach trip with baby. This allows you to enjoy the water with your little one while still being hands-free to help with other kids.

The one I ordered is lightweight and mesh, and it’s adjustable so either my husband or I could wear the baby around the water. I can’t wait to test it out! I’ll update this post after using it to give a thorough review.

OUTDOOR BOUNCER WITH SHADE

This portable activity center comes with a UV shade so your baby can play and jump near the rest of the family. We’ve used this at the beach, but also in our yard, for camping, and to throw in the car whenever we’re going to visit friends or family. With 3 other kids, it’s essential that we have a safe place to set the baby down where she’ll be happy, especially when we’re outside.

We also used this with baby #3, and despite his face in the photo below, he loved being in the bouncer at the beach, and we loved being able to relax!

FEEDING BABY AT THE BEACH

I have plenty of experience breastfeeding a baby at the beach. It’s not necessarily the most comfortable way to feed a baby with the heat, humidity, and sand everywhere, but with the right gear, it’s really not so bad. Plus breastfeeding is the best way to keep baby hydrated!

We camp out under the SportBrella. I make sure my water bottle and a snack like a protein bar or granola bar are nearby, then I settle into my beach chair. I usually choose v-neck swimsuits that are easy to nurse in. I almost never bother with a nursing cover at the beach because it’s way too hot!

If you’re formula-feeding bring bottles, warm water (use an insulated thermos to keep water warm), and pre-measured formula.

TOYS AND ENTERTAINMENT

I’ve found that you don’t really need to bring much to entertain babies at the beach. A teething toy or 2, a shovel, sand toys, and a bucket, and you’re good to go. Keep them in a mesh bag to shake sand out when you’re done. You can also use the mesh bag to collect seashells!

All the action and playing in the water will keep them entertained!

If you’ve got an older baby, bring a few easy snacks for them (fruit pouches!).

BABY SUNSCREEN AND SUN PROTECTION

If your baby is older than 6 months you can put sunscreen on them. We look for rub-on kinds that are made with zinc and are ideally organic. ThinkBaby, Aveeno Baby, and Babyganics are all brands we have used and loved! Use a sunscreen stick for the baby’s face so you don’t get sunscreen in their eyes.

Ideally, it’s best to keep baby out of the sun as much as possible, so find a spot with shade or bring. an umbrella, and consider going to the beach earlier in the day or in the late afternoon when the sun’s rays aren’t quite as strong.

BABY POWDER

We always bring baby powder to the beach, but it’s not for diaper changes! Just sprinkle some baby powder on sandy feet and hands and the sand should brush right off.

Side note: you should also throw in some vinegar for jellyfish stings if you’re at the ocean. My toddler and I were once both stung wading at the very edge of the shore. Better safe than sorry!

GETTING YOUR GEAR TO THE BEACH

You’ll need to haul everything to the beach while also carrying the baby and possibly watching other kids. There are several options for getting everything from your car or hotel/home rental to the sand.

First, you could use the Badger Gear Bottomless Backpack or something similar. It’s a backpack that holds 2 camp chairs, but you could also use it for carrying beach chairs, a baby bouncer, blankets, towels, or anything else you need for a day in the sun.

We have 2, and my husband and I both carry one, ensuring we are both hands-free for managing children. The main reason we use these is that the beach we lived by had stairs, so a wagon or stroller wouldn’t work.

If you’re going to a beach where you don’t have to descend stairs, definitely consider a wagon to haul your gear for you! I would look for one that is specifically made with large wheels that work over the sand like this one. Even better, you could snag this one that comes with a canopy so the baby or kids can sit in the shade at any time. You can push it or pull it, and it even comes with an extra storage basket.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

It probably goes without saying that you need to lower your expectations, but I know I needed an attitude adjustment when I first started bringing babies and toddlers to the beach - especially when we went with friends who had older kids!

If you expect to be tending to the baby all day, preventing them from eating sand, reapplying sunscreen, and just generally NOT relaxing, you will appreciate the moments of rest and tranquility SO much more.

Realize that a day at the beach means you’re actually parenting in a more challenging place, so finish the day feeling like a warrior for surviving. Soak up the family time together whether it’s enjoyable or a disaster (those days make for great stories later).